Gorgeous Fall Day! 

I went to a wedding outside of the 'Couv, and went around this trail. I had no idea how beautiful the Columbia Gorge is, wow. Other people knew, it was busy! I showed up around 1pm on a Sunday afternoon. The parking lot was full, with lots of cars parked up the road. There was no toilet paper in the women's restroom, (bring your own). 

There's several useful maps at the trailhead kiosk, with mileage corresponding to different viewpoints. Cross the road using the crosswalk, and immediately is  a sign that says 'lower' and 'upper' trails. This is the start/end of the 7 plus mile loop. I went clockwise, and took the lower trail. 

The first mile is all downhill, on a paved road down to the water. 

The next two miles (plus?) climbed up with switchbacks, interspersed with some rollercoaster up and down hills. Total fun! There was a pretty waterfall for a 'look up into the water and get your hat wet' moment. There was one other hat dip further up the trail, maybe good for a water bottle fill, if desperate. 

There are 4-8 times during the hike when there is a short spur trail marked 'horses', for the equestrians to get around a narrow or steep part of the trail. I went on some of those (less people), and they always return to the main trail within 100 yards. 

The trail tops out and is flat for (2 miles?), and takes you onto the other side of the giant bluff you climbed up. Then it's several miles (2+) down, down, down the switchbacks, back to the parking lot. There were several trail crew members working on this part of the trail (thank you!) 

I haven't worked up the grit in myself to pack out doggie poop bags I find on the trail yet (there were 2 or 3). Please pack it out, many thanks.

Enjoy, see you on the trail!

Hot weather hike.   The trails were pretty dusty due to such dry weather we have been having.    For those unfamiliar with the trail, there are some areas that are hard packed dirt which is easy for walking.   Some other parts of the trails are heavy with small rocks and roots sticking up.   You do have to hike looking down most of the way.   A hiking stick is helpful around the roots and especially on the way back down.   We did the hike to the Nancy Russell Overlook and walked the same trail back out.   There is the option to do a longer loop trip.    Our trip was just over 5 miles.   I would imagine some times of the year the bugs would be tough but they were not too bothersome today.   I am sure that the trails can also get pretty muddy if it has been rainy.   

Great hike, although at this time of year it has to be done as an out-and-back rather than loop, because the lower section of the trail is closed due to nesting falcons.

The trail is well made, and gets most of the climbing done in the first couple of miles before mellowing into a gentle ramble.  Clay sections seem likely to get slippy in wetter weather though.  A lot of people must turn around at the first viewpoint, as the crowds thinned significantly from mile #2 onward.

I was surprised by the varied scenery on this trail, which I didn't really get a sense of from the WTA write-up or photos (sorry I have no photos of my own to share).   It's mostly a forest trail, but with significant variety from old pines to second growth with dense underbrush and some lovely deciduous woodlands, and also includes a half mile or so that opens up into expansive grassland.  Not the place to seek remoteness or solitude, but varied vegetation and the occasional stunning viewpoint make this a winner.

Signage isn't great (most of the signs just say "Trail", which is not particularly helpful if you're unsure /which/ trail you are looking at!)  but it's easy to follow regardless.  At the several splits labeled "Viewpoint" vs. "Horses", take the viewpoint branch, which will rejoin the other shortly after  (despite the horse signage, I saw no sign of horses actually using this trail).  After the first main viewpoint, I worried I had lost the route when the path headed gradually down the back side of the ridge and then crossed a road with another trailhead, but fear not - there's no subtlety here even though some sections are unlabeled.

I hiked this trail around this time last year and found a beautiful wildflower display. It was even better this morning. We were the third car in the lot at 7am, and we only saw one person as we hiked up to the lookout. We sat at the lookout for about a half an hour, enjoying the views and listening to a very interesting conversation between two birds. It was so quiet that we almost forgot we were in the Gorge on a Sunday morning. of course, that changed quickly as the morning went on. The place was packed by the time we got back to the car around 10:00.